Gameboard for playing modified version of chess or checkers

ABSTRACT

A game of chess or checkers played on a gameboard having a checkerboard pattern formed by alternating light and dark colored squares; and having a fully extended form (five vertical rows and eight horizontal rows) and a modified form (five vertical rows and six horizontal rows), wherein a first hinged mechanism and a second hinged mechanism are integral parts of the gameboard, and wherein the first hinged mechanism is located between a first horizontal row and a second horizontal row, and the second hinged mechanism is located between an eighth horizontal row and a seventh horizontal row.

The present application is based on previously filed provisionalapplication Ser. No. 61/344,932.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a game of chess or checkers wherein thegame includes the use of a modified gameboard. The modified gameboarddemands the use of fewer playing pieces than is normally used.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The games of chess and checkers have been played for a long time.Learning the game of chess is time consuming and challenging. Over theyears modifications to the games of chess and checkers have beenattempted in order to introduce beginners into the sports and also toimprove on the skills of more advanced players.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,257,787, issued to Miccio, discloses a gameboard and aplurality of playing pieces for playing a shortened form of the game ofchess. The gameboard has a traditional checkerboard pattern and consistsof five vertical rows and at least six horizontal rows. The playingpieces include a set of light colored pieces and a set of dark coloredpieces. Each set includes one each of a king, queen, rook, bishop andknight, and five pawns. Each set of the same colored king, queen, rook,bishop and knight pieces is initially located in the squares along ahorizontal end row of the gameboard; and the five pawns are initiallylocated in the squares along the adjacent penultimate horizontal row. Ina preferred embodiment, the initial location of the non-pawn playingpieces is in the order: rook-knight-bishop-queen-king. The game permitsqueen side casteling, The total number of playing piece locations (blanksquares) on the gameboard for receiving a playing piece is equal to fivetimes the number of horizontal rows. In another embodiment, the totalnumber of playing piece locations (blank squares) on the gameboard forreceiving a playing piece is equal to the product of the number ofvertical and horizontal rows.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,402,146, issued to Goller, discloses a chess-like gameemploying ten pieces in total. Each player owns a king, queen, bishop,knight and rook. No pawns are employed in the game.

US Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0116638 (Jacklin et al)discloses a game board comprising at least two parts connected at aconnection region. The connection region comprises a hinge means toenable folding of one of the at least two parts relative to the other.Preferably, the game board comprises two generally equally sized parts,the connection region generally at a centre line of the game board whenunfolded. The hinge means is disposed at the centre line to allow thegame board to be folded in half. A board game is also disclosed. Theboard game comprises a game board comprising an upper surface member, aperipheral edge connected to the upper surface member; and at least oneaperture in the peripheral edge for receiving a game piece; and at leastone game piece for selective insertion within the at least one aperture.The board game further comprises at least two player tokens for movementacross the upper surface member; at least one die for determining anamount of movement for each of the at least two player tokens across theupper surface member; a plurality of game cards for providinginstructions during game play; and game currency for use during gameplay.

US Patent Application Publication No. 2006/0108737 (Strum) discloses afolding game board for use with game pieces. A flat game board includesfour panels. Each panel comprises a playing surface and a compartmentopposite the playing surface. Certain panels are hinged together topermit each of two pairs of compartments to fold and close independentlyto form two storage areas within which playing pieces may be stored.Other panels are hinged together to permit the two storage areas to befolded together, thereby stacking the four panels of the game board. Thedepth of the storage areas is based on the size necessary to accommodateplaying pieces and accessories to be stored within the game board.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,568,702, issued to Holden et al, relates to acollapsible chess set containing a generally square chess board having aplaying surface with an eight by eight playing grid formed by alternatecolored squares on the grid surface to form a chess board playingsurface. The chess board has a central transverse dividing the chessboard into two rectangular halves forming a first half and anessentially identical second half. A first peripheral wall is connectedto the first rectangular half of the chess board and extending beneathand away from the playing surface of the first half of said chess board.A second peripheral wall is connected to the second rectangular half ofthe chess board and extends beneath and away from the playing surface ofthe second half of the chess board. A hinge is connected to a first longedge of the first peripheral wall of the first rectangular half of thechess board and also connected to a first long edge of the secondperipheral wall of the second rectangular half of the chess board suchthat the first half and the second half of the chess board can bepivoted from a closed rectangular box configuration to an open generallysquare playing surface configuration. Various other limitations are alsodisclosed and claimed.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,341,252, issued to Jacklin et al, discloses a game boardcomprising at least two parts connected at a connection region. Theconnection region comprises a hinge means to enable folding of one ofthe at least two parts relative to the other. Preferably, the game boardcomprises two generally equally sized parts, the connection regiongenerally at a centre line of the game board when unfolded. The hingemeans is disposed at the centre line to allow the game board to befolded in half. A board game is also disclosed. The board game comprisesa game board comprising an upper surface member, a peripheral edgeconnected to the upper surface member; and at least one aperture in theperipheral edge for receiving a game piece; and at least one game piecefor selective insertion within the at least one aperture. The board gamefurther comprises at least two player tokens for movement across theupper surface member; at least one die for determining an amount ofmovement for each of the at least two player tokens across the uppersurface member; a plurality of game cards for providing instructionsduring game play; and game currency for use during game play.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,991,232, issued to Yufa, discloses a portable boardmulti-game set for playing chess, checker or backgammon games. Animproved portable board multi-game set includes the set of chess andchecker/backgammon pieces each including the piece opening, inclosureand director, a game board comprising two foldable half-boards coupledto each other by the hinges, chess/checker field layer, a backgammonfield layer, and the apertures located on the side of the board intendedfor chess/checker games and providing the prevention of the piece'smisplacement off the center of the squares on the chess/checker gamefield by passage of the piece's director into aperture. The portableboard game set also comprises a compartment for storage of the pieces.

None of the above-cited references, taken either alone or incombination, serves to anticipate the present invention as disclosed andclaimed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a game including a gameboard and aplurality of playing pieces. The gameboard includes a uniformcheckerboard playing field consisting of alternate light and darkcolored squares. The squares are arranged in adjacent horizontal andvertical rows. Each of the rows includes alternate light and darkcolored squares, and each square is offset with respect to the similarlycolored square of the adjacent row. A checkerboard pattern is formed bythe alternating light and dark colored squares. The gameboard, whenfully extended, includes of five vertical rows and eight horizontalrows. A first hinged mechanism and a second hinged mechanism areintegral parts of the gameboard. The first hinged mechanism is locatedbetween a first horizontal row and a second horizontal row. The secondhinged mechanism is located between an eighth horizontal row and aseventh horizontal row. The first and second hinged mechanisms allow fora player to fold the first horizontal row underneath the secondhorizontal row. The player can also fold the eighth horizontal rowunderneath the seventh horizontal row. After the player folds the lasthorizontal rows at each end of the gameboard under the respectivepenultimate horizontal rows, the gameboard is reduced to five verticalrows and six horizontal rows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 relates to the gameboard of the present invention in an extendedposition.

FIG. 2 relates to the gameboard of the present invention in a closedposition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a shortened form of the game of chess.For even more aggressive action, and a much quicker game, the gameboardof the present invention can be shortened even further, to give aplaying field of greatly reduced size. This can be viewed as anultra-shortened form of the game of chess. Action can be fast andfurious, while at the same time providing a learning experience for theuninitiated. In both the shortened form and the ultra-shortened form,the game includes a plurality of playing pieces including a first set oflight colored pieces and a second set of dark colored pieces. Each setof colored pieces contains five pawns and five royalty pieces. Theroyalty pieces include one king, one queen, one rook, one bishop and oneknight. Each set of similarly colored royalty pieces are set up to beinitially located in the squares along a horizontal end row of thegameboard, and each set of similarly colored pawns are set up to beinitially located along the adjacent penultimate horizontal row. Theroyalty pieces can be set up in any agreed upon order. In a preferredembodiment, the royalty pieces are arranged in the order of queen, king,bishop, knight and rook. This order can be employed from left to rightor from right to left. Preferably, if a first player sets up his royaltypieces from left to right, then a second player sets up his royaltypieces in the same order, but from right to left. In an alternativeembodiment, the five royalty pieces are initially arranged in the orderof king, queen, bishop, rook, knight; and the corresponding five royaltypieces are initially arranged in the same vertical row, but at theopposite horizontal end of the gameboard.

The same gameboard can be employed for both the shortened form and theultra-shortened form of the game of chess. The gameboard for theshortened form includes five vertical rows and eight horizontal rows.Once the opposing sides, represented by a set of light colored piecesand a set of dark colored pieces, are positioned for the start of thegame, the gameboard (playing field) contains four horizontal rows ofempty spaces. These empty spaces are available for future movement ofthe pieces as by the rules of advance in the game of chess. If the gameof checkers is being played, then the spaces are available for movementof the pieces according to the rules of advance in the game of checkers.

The gameboard includes a first hinged mechanism and a second hingedmechanism. The first hinged mechanism is located between a firsthorizontal row and a second horizontal row, wherein the first horizontalrow is an end row and the second horizontal row is a penultimate row.The second hinged mechanism is located between an eighth horizontal rowand a seventh horizontal row, wherein the eighth horizontal row is anend row and the seventh horizontal row is a penultimate row. Hingedmechanisms employed in the present invention are mechanisms which areknown to one of ordinary skill in the art, and, as such, form nospecific part of the present invention. When the ultra-shortened form isplayed, the gameboard is simply folded at the hinges to provide anultra-short playing field. Both the first and second hinged mechanismsallow a player to fold the first horizontal row underneath the secondhorizontal row, and the eighth horizontal row underneath the seventhhorizontal row. After the player folds the gameboard, its size isreduced to five vertical rows and six horizontal rows. Once the opposingsides, represented by a set of light colored pieces and a set of darkcolored pieces, are positioned for the start of the game, the gameboard(playing field) contains only two horizontal rows of empty spaces. Theseempty spaces are available for future movement of the pieces as by therules of advance in the game of chess. If the game of checkers is beingplayed, then the spaces are available for movement of the piecesaccording to the rules of advance in the game of checkers. If the gameof chess is being played, the initial pawn movement is limited to onesquare when the size of the gameboard includes five vertical rows andsix horizontal rows. Preferably, pawn en passant movement is notallowed.

If the game of checkers is being played, the plurality of playing piecesincludes a first set of red colored pieces and a second set of blackcolored pieces. Each of the pieces is circular in shape to resemble achecker, and each set of colored pieces includes five checkers.

The present invention relates to a game including a gameboard. Thegameboard includes a uniform checkerboard playing field consisting ofalternate light and dark colored squares. The squares are arranged inadjacent horizontal and vertical rows. Each of the rows includesalternate light and dark colored squares. Each square is offset withrespect to the similarly colored square of the adjacent row. Acheckerboard pattern is formed by the alternating light and dark coloredsquares. The gameboard includes five vertical rows and eight horizontalrows. The gameboard further includes a first hinged mechanism and asecond hinged mechanism. The first hinged mechanism is located between afirst horizontal row and a second horizontal row of the gameboard. Thesecond hinged mechanism is located between an eighth horizontal row anda seventh horizontal row of the gameboard. The first hinged mechanismprovides for folding of the first horizontal row underneath the secondhorizontal row. The second hinged mechanism provides for folding of theeighth horizontal row underneath the seventh horizontal row. After thefolding procedure, the gameboard is reduced to five vertical rows andsix horizontal rows.

Referring to FIG. 1, a gameboard 1 is represented, the gameboard 1including endpieces 30 and middle piece 20. The endpieces 30 areconnected to the middle piece 20 by means of two hinges 10. Thegameboard 1 further includes alternating dark squares 2 and lightsquares 3. The endpieces 30 can be folded underneath the middle piece 20as by folding the pieces 30 by hand.

Referring to FIG. 2, a gameboard 1 is represented, the gameboardincluding endpieces 30 and middle piece 20, wherein the endpieces 30 arefolded underneath middle piece 20 by means of two hinges 10. Thegameboard 1 further includes alternating dark squares 2 and lightsquares 3. The endpieces 30 can be folded underneath the middle piece 20as by folding the pieces 30 by hand. When endpieces 30 are foldedunderneath middle piece 20, the playing field, represented now by middlepiece 20 alone, has improved stability.

1. A game comprising a gameboard and a plurality of playing pieces,wherein the gameboard consists of a uniform checkerboard playing fieldconsisting of alternate light and dark colored squares; wherein thesquares are arranged in adjacent horizontal and vertical rows; whereineach of the rows includes alternate light and dark colored squares, eachsquare offset with respect to the similarly colored square of theadjacent row; wherein a checkerboard pattern is formed by thealternating light and dark colored squares; wherein the gameboardincludes of five vertical rows and eight horizontal rows; wherein thegameboard further includes a first hinged mechanism and a second hingedmechanism; wherein the first hinged mechanism is located between a firsthorizontal row and a second horizontal row, and the second hingedmechanism is located between an eighth horizontal row and a seventhhorizontal row; wherein the first and second hinged mechanisms providefor folding of the first horizontal row underneath the second horizontalrow, and for folding of the eighth horizontal row underneath the seventhhorizontal row; and wherein, after the folding procedure, the gameboardis reduced to five vertical rows and six horizontal rows.
 2. The game ofclaim 1 wherein the plurality of playing pieces includes a first set oflight colored pieces and a second set of dark colored pieces; whereineach set of colored pieces includes five pawns and five royalty pieces,wherein the royalty pieces include one king, one queen, one rook, onebishop and one knight.
 3. The game of claim 2 wherein each set ofsimilarly colored royalty pieces are set up to be initially located inthe squares along a horizontal end row of the gameboard, and each set ofsimilarly colored pawns are set up to be initially located along theadjacent penultimate horizontal row.
 4. The game of claim 1 wherein thesize of the gameboard is selected from the group consisting of fivevertical rows and eight horizontal rows, and five vertical rows and sixhorizontal rows.
 5. The game of claim 4 wherein initial pawn movement islimited to one square when the size of the gameboard includes fivevertical rows and six horizontal rows.
 6. The game of claim 5 whereinpawn en passant movement is not allowed.
 7. The game of claim 2 whereinthe five royalty pieces are initially arranged in the order of king,queen, bishop, rook, knight; and wherein the corresponding five royaltypieces are initially arranged in the same vertical row, but at theopposite horizontal end of the gameboard.
 8. The game of claim 1 whereinthe plurality of playing pieces includes a first set of red coloredpieces and a second set of black colored pieces; wherein each of thepieces is circular in shape to resemble a checker; and wherein each setof colored pieces includes five checkers.
 9. A game comprising agameboard, wherein the gameboard consists of a uniform checkerboardplaying field consisting of alternate light and dark colored squares;wherein the squares are arranged in adjacent horizontal and verticalrows; wherein each of the rows includes alternate light and dark coloredsquares, each square offset with respect to the similarly colored squareof the adjacent row; wherein a checkerboard pattern is formed by thealternating light and dark colored squares; wherein the gameboardincludes of five vertical rows and eight horizontal rows; wherein thegameboard further includes a first hinged mechanism and a second hingedmechanism; wherein the first hinged mechanism is located between a firsthorizontal row and a second horizontal row, and the second hingedmechanism is located between an eighth horizontal row and a seventhhorizontal row; wherein the first and second hinged mechanisms providefor folding of the first horizontal row underneath the second horizontalrow, and for folding of the eighth horizontal row underneath the seventhhorizontal row; and wherein, after the folding procedure, the gameboardis reduced to five vertical rows and six horizontal rows.